Anti-ulcerative activity of Maytenus ilicifolia spray-dried powders was tested per os in male Wistar rats, using indomethacin as ulcerogenic and cimetidine as control substances. An aqueous extract was prepared by infusion, using a plant: solvent ratio of 1:10 (w/v). The dry residue was 2.40% (w/w). Spray-dried extracts were prepared either without adjuvant addition (SDP1) or using 20 parts of colloidal silicon dioxide to each 80 parts of dry residue (SDP2). For comparison purposes a freeze-dried extract (FDE) was prepared additionally. The total tannin content was determinated using a Folin-Denis modified technique. The SDP2 and FDE showed the best anti-ulcer activity, with about 77% lesion area decrease, while the SDP1 activity was not statistically significant (p = 0.05).